Comprehensive Chemical Compatibility Chart for Life Science Applications

Life Science Common Reagents & Chemicals

What's in it:

Common Applications:

Buffers

Balanced salt solutions and powders used for molecular, protein, nucleic acid, and cell biology applications including cell culture, electrophoresis, ELISA, and chromatography processes. Buffers are an aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or vice versa. Its pH changes very little when a small amount of strong acid or base is added to it. Buffer solutions are used as a means of keeping pH at a nearly constant value in a wide variety of chemical applications.

ABS

Acrylic

COP

CPVC

Delrin/Acetal

HDPE

Noryl

Nylon 66

PBT

PC

PEEK

PES

PET

Polysulfone

PP

PPS

PTFE

PVC

PVDF

Torlon

UHMW

Ultem

Tris-Buffered Saline (TBS)

Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (tris)-buffered saline

Used to dilute substances used in laboratory experiments. Often used in immuno-blotting for both membrane washing and antibody dilution

Tris-EDTA (TE)

2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol;2-[2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl-(carboxymethyl)amino]acetic acid

Tris and EDTA are two major components which are used throughout the DNA extraction protocol. Tris and EDTA are applicable in lysis buffer preparation, elution buffer preparation and washing buffer preparation.

Tris-Acetate-EDTA Buffer

HEPES Buffered Saline (HBS)

(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid)

Widely used in cell culture, largely because it is better at maintaining physiological pH.

Trizma (Tris base)

Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane

Frequently used buffer in cell and molecular biology experiments. Used to increase permeability of cell membranes. It is a component of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Denhardt’s Solution

0 mG Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), 50 mG Ficoll, and 50 mG Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).

block non-specific binding sites in western, northern and Southern blot membranes

Bicine buffer

Phosphate Buffered Saline, PBS

PBS contains 3.2 mM Na2HPO4, 0.5 mM KH2PO4, 1.3 mM KCl, 137 mM NaCl, pH 7.4.

suitable for biochemistry or molecular biology applications requiring a chelator of divalent metal ions.

Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline (DPBS)

Annexin V Binding Buffer

Sodium Citrate Solution

1M sodium citrate in H2O

A to 100% to 190F

A to 70F

A to 70F

A to 70F

A to 70F

A to 70F

A to 70F

A to 70F

AB to 140F

A to 140F

A to 70F

Sodium Acetate Solution

*Also see Sodium Acetate below

B at 70F

A to 140F

A to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 180F

A to 100% to 160F, no stress

A to 130F

AB to 100% to 80F

A to 130F

A to 70F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 70F

A to 100% to 80F

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 500F

A to 100% to 160F no stress

A to 100% to 275F

A to 60% to 70F

A to 100% to 140F

A solution to 70F

Detergents

There are many types of detergents used in biological applictions and research. Applications range from cell lysis, to protein denaturation to cleaning steps in equipment.

SDS

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Extraction of DNA and RNA, Solubilization of specimens for diagnostic applications, Cell lysis

Liposome preparation

Prevention of reagent and analyte precipitation from solution

Prevention of non-specific binding in immunoassays"

Triton™ X-114

Polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether

Used in biochemical applications to solubilize and separate proteins due to its low cloud point (23 °C).

Triton™ X-100

Polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether

In the permeabilization of cells for immunofluorescence staining

CTAB

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

One of the main components of some buffers for the extraction of DNA

CHAPS

3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate

Useful for membrane protein solubilization when it is important to maintain protein activity

General Bioreagents (Acid/Base)

Many of these may be used in buffer solutions.

DMSO

Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplification of cDNA libraries, DNA sequencing, column-loading buffers for poly(A)+ RNA selection, buffers for the transformation of competent E. coli, transfection protocols

NR at 70F

A

NR at 70F

NR at 70F

A to 122F

A to 200F

A to 70F

C at 70F

NR at 70F

B to 212F

NR at 70F

NR at 70F

A to 125 F

A to 200F

A to 500 F

NR at 70F

NR 100% at 70F

SWELLS

Ethanol Solution

Used in the purification and precipitation of biomolecules, in staining and restaining specimens in histology, in dehydrating tissues before embedding, and in disinfection.

AB to 70F no stress

NR to 100% to 70F C to 70% to 70F A to 50% to 70F

A

A to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 140F

A to 100% to 160F no stress

A to 100% to 80F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 140F

A to 90% to 90F AB to 100% to 70F B to 100% to 120F

A to 100%to 212F

AB to 70F

A to 100% to 70F

B to 100% to 120F

A to 100% to 225F

A to 100% to 300F

A to 100% at 500F

A to 100% 270F

A to 100% to 176F

A to 70F

A to 100% to 170F

A to 70F

Sodium hypochlorite

"liquid bleach"

Inhibits microbial growth

NR to 70F

A to 100% to 140F

A to 15% to 140F

NR to 5% to 70F

A to 100% to 160F

AB to 100% to 200F

NR to 5% to 70F

A to 10% to 70F

AB to 100% to 70F

AB to 100% to 212F

B to 100% to 70F

A to 5% to 70F NR to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 200F

C to 14% to 70F

NR to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 500F

A to 12.5% to 140F

A to 17% to 280F

A to 15% to 70F

A to 100% to 170F

NR to 5% to 70F

Hydrogen peroxide

Inhibits microbial growth

NR at 100% at 70F A to 10% to 70F

A to 63% to 100F

A

NR to 100% at 70F

NR at 70F

AB to 100% to 70F

NR at 100% to 70F

NR at 70F

A to 90%to 130F B at 100% at 70F

A to 100% to 125F

A to 100% to 212F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 90% to 80F

A to 100% 10 70F

NR at 100% at 70F

NR to 50-100% at 70F

A to 100% to 500F

AB to 100% to 100F

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 90% to 70F

Sodium Acetate

sodium salt of acetic acid

Sodium acetate is used as the carbon source for culturing bacteria. Sodium acetate is also useful for increasing yields of DNA isolation by ethanol precipitation.

B at 70F

A to 140F

A to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 180F

A to 100% to 160F, no stress

A to 130F

AB to 100% to 80F

A to 130F

A to 70F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 70F

A to 100% to 80F

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 500F

A to 100% to 160F no stress

A to 100% to 275F

A to 60% to 70F

A to 100% to 140F

A solution to 70F

Imidazole

Imidazole can be used to elute tagged proteins bound to nickel ions attached to the surface of beads in the chromatography column. Used in buffer solutions.

Urea Solution

Carbamide

commonly used for sample preparation prior to

electrophoretic methods. Urea is also used to facilitate enzymatic digestion of proteins for analysis by mass spectrometry."

B at 70F

A

A to 100% to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 160F

A to 150F

A to 100% to 70F

NR at 70F

NR at 70F

A to 212F

AC at 70F

C at 70F

A to 100% to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 500F

A to 100% to 160F no stress

A to 100% to 250F

A to 70F

10M Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

Used for many applications including adjusting the pH of various solutions.

AB to 100% to 70F

NR at 70F

A to 100% to 150F

NR at 70F

A to 100% to 140F

A to 100% to 185F

A to 100% to 70F

NR at 70F

NR at 70F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 54% to 70F

NR at 70F

A to 50F to 125F

A to 100% to 125F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 480F

A to 100% to 140F

NR at 70F

NR at 70F

A to 100% to 170F

NR at 70F

Potassium Salt

A to 140F

A to 225F no stress

A to 70F

A to 140F

A to 150F

A to 70F

A to 70F

A to 70F

A to 212F

A to 70F

A to 70F

A to 200F

A to 100% to 150F

A to 200F

A to 500F

A to 100% to 160F

A to 100% to 275F

A to 70F

A to 70F

Potassium Chloride

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100F to 140F

A to 100% to 225F

A to 100% to 180F

A to 100% to 160F no stress

A to 100% to 150F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 80F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 212F

A to 80F

A to 200F

A to 100% to 225F

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 500F

A to 100% to 160F

A to 100% to 275F

A to 90% to 70F

A to 70F

Potassium Phosphate

Sodium Chloride

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% 140F

A

A to 100% to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 70F

A 100% to 160F

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 80F

A to 100% to 120F

A to 100% to 212F

A to 70F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 225F

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 500F

A to 100% to 160F

A to 100% to 275F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 170F

A to 70F

Zinc Chloride

Used in water treatment, dry cell batteries,

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 225F no stress

NR to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 180F

A to 70F

NR to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 80F

A to 140F

A to 100% to 212F

A to 80F

A to 300F

A to 100% to 225F no stress

A to 100% to 200F

A to 100% to 500F

A to 100% to 160F no stress

A to 100% to 275F

A to 170F

A to 10% to 70F

HCL

Used as a standard and as a strong acid for pH maintenance

BC to 100% to 70F

NR at 70F

A

NR to 75-100% 176F

NR to 100% at 70F

A to 100% to 140F

aA to 100% to 180F

NR to 100% to 70F

NR to 100% to 70F

NR at 70F

A to 100% to 212F

A to 60% to 140F

NR to 100% at 70F

A to 100% to 70F

A to 100% to 70F

NR at 70F

A to 100% to 500F

NR at 100% to 70F

A to 50% to 175F

AB to 37% to 200F

A to 100% to 140F

A to 100% to 70F

Disodium Phosphate Solution

Buffer component

A to 235F no stress

A to 140F

A to 160F

A to 225F no stress

A to 500F

A to 140F

AB to 100% to 280F

Methanol

A

Octanol

Propanol

A

Monosodium Phosphate Solution (1M)

Buffer component

MISC

Gold nanoparticles

Unique optoelectronic properties have been researched and utilized in high technology applications such as organic photovoltaics, sensory probes, therapeutic agents, drug delivery in biological and medical applications, electronic conductors and catalysis.

Proclin 300

5-Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT) and

2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MIT)"

Biocide to prevent microbial growth

Tween 20

Polysorbate-type nonionic surfactant

Many biological processes, surfactant

A

EDTA Solution (0.5M)"

0.5M EDTA, pH 8.0 is an aqueous solution prepared by dissolving Na2EDTA•2H<sub<="" td="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></sub

Suitable for biochemistry or molecular biology applications requiring a chelator of divalent metal ions.

DTT Solution (1M)

Dithiothreitol

Dithiothreitol (DTT) is used in proteomics applications to maintain sulfhydryl (-SH) groups in the reduced state and for quantitative reduction of disulfide (-S-S-) groups. By reducing the disulfide bonds in a protein sample, the protein can be more effectively fragmented and analyzed.